Higher Education and Student Affairs International Experience

Application Instructions

The University of Connecticut HESA IE will provide students with the opportunity to spend a three week period immersed in the administrative culture of an overseas university. Students in the 2015 cohort may apply to one of two sites. The two overseas universities are the University of Glasgow and the University of New South Wales. Both institutions share membership with UConn in Universitas 21. The HESA IE and the accompanying pre- and post-departure educational activities will emphasize the application of higher education and student affairs concepts to an international university context. In order to deepen students’ learning, students will address a problem of practice posed by the partner university. The foundational pedagogy of this experience is congruent with the philosophy of the HESA program– to connect theories with practice in the context of challenging real-world situations.

As a result of participating in the HESA IE, students will be able to

  1. Apply theories and concepts from the literature on students and higher education to an international university;
  2. Analyze the culture and context of an international university paying particular attention to its organizational structure and the student experience;
  3. Use the knowledge gained from the experience in conjunction with their knowledge and experiences in the HESA program to address an issue of practice for the international university;
  4. Demonstrate writing and presentation skills through the delivery of a report to the UConn community and the international university community.

The HESA IE program is composed of three separate phases:

  1. Pre-departure orientation sessions that will prepare students to work abroad and help orient them to working and living in Glasgow or in Sydney.
  2. Three weeks on site at either the University of Glasgow or at the University of New South Wales, working as a team to address a specific problem of practice. Program dates on campus overseasareMonday, May 19 through Friday, June 6, 2014.
  3. An academic course (EDLR 5094) taken during the Fall 2014semester that will foster structured reflection on the international experience, examination of selected issues related to international higher education, and development of a comprehensive Application Report (AR) that addresses the identified problem of practice, which will be presented to the HESA community and representatives of the partner institution. This course will fulfill the HESA third semester elective requirement.

IMPORTANT

Students must indicate which IE site they are applying for (Glasgow or New South Wales) and whether they would like to be considered for the other site as a second choice.

The program dates for the IE program will require absence from the UConn campus for part of your assistantship tenure. Your assistantship may not be able to accommodate this. You MUST check with your site supervisor before applying for this experience.

Application Materials

The following materials must be submitted together to 240 Gentry by Monday, January 6, 2014:

Completed application, including essay
Unofficial University of Connecticut Transcript
Current résumé
At least one letter of reference from a supervisor, faculty member, or other University of Connecticut professional
Statement of support from your assistantship site supervisor

Send any questions to

HESA IE Application

Applicant Information

Full Name: / DOB:
Last / First / M.I.
Address:
Street Address / Apartment/Unit #
City / State / ZIP Code
Phone: / () / E-mail Address:
PeoplesoftNumber:
Are you a citizen of the United States? / YES / NO / If no, be advised that visa requirements for entering the United Kingdom and/or Australia vary depending on country of citizenship. This may affect the cost or feasibility of participating in the program.
Do you have a current passport that will be valid for at least 60 days after the end of the program? / YES / NO / If no, what plans have you made to obtain/renew your passport?
Graduate Assistantship: / Supervisor:
What is your first IE site choice? / University of Glasgow University of New South Wales
Do you wish to be considered for the other site as your second choice? / Yes, please consider me for the other site
No, I only wish to be considered for my first choice

Unofficial Transcript

Include with your application an unofficial transcript from the University of Connecticut that includes final grades from the Fall 2013 semester.

Résumé

Please attach a current résumé that lists educational, employment, and leadership experience

Letter of Reference

Please include at least one letter of reference from a supervisor, faculty member, or other University of Connecticut student affairs professional that attests to your work ethic, ability to respond effectively to new situations, and professional demeanor.

Statement of Support

Attach a statement of support from your assistantship site supervisor. Through this statement, your supervisor should acknowledge that your participation in the HESA IE program will require departure from the university during your assistantship contract dates. It is your obligation to ensure you have fulfilled all of your responsibilities before your departure.

Essay

In 250 words or less, outline your personal learning objectives for this experienceand your professional reasons for wanting to take part in the HESA IE.

Disclaimer and Signature

By signing and submitting this application, I agree that the information I have presented is true and correct. I understand that incomplete or false information may make me ineligible for participation. I authorize the University of Connecticut to conduct routine inquiry, which may include contacting present or previous employers, during the process of my application to secure necessary information and to determine eligibility.
It is the policy of the University of Connecticut not to discriminate on the basis of gender/gender identity and expression, national origin, color, religion, ability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
Signature: / Date: